Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Ifell asleep with the woman I’ve wanted in bed for as long as I can remember.
She was right there, in my arms. I woke up without her.
I didn’t fucking like it. Her scent is still here, on my sheets.
Getting up, I head for the bathroom and shower before dressing in a suit, because that’s what’s expected of us.
It’s always business, even when we’re at home.
Thankfully, my mom is a fashion genius and makes sure we have the best suits that money can buy. All custom-made and fitted, with fabrics that don’t leave you to sweat in the heat of Mexico.
Once I’m dressed, I step out of my room and look into the guestroom. Frankie isn’t in there either. My gut drops. Where the fuck is she? Of course I don’t run through the house screaming out her name like I want to. That would be irrational.
It doesn’t take long to find her. She’s in the dining room with the rest of my family: all three of my brothers, my sister, my mom and dad.
“Morning,” I say when I walk in.
“Sleep in? Busy night?” Ezekiel asks me.
Ignoring him, I take the only spare seat. Next to my sister. When I look across the table, both Ezekiel and Esterio smirk at me. They’re sitting on each side of Frankie and know I’m pissy about not being able to sit next to her myself.
Frankie gives me a shy smile I find amusing. There was nothing shy about her when I was buried inside her just a few hours ago.
“How’d you sleep?” I ask her.
“Great. You?”
“Perfect.”
“You two do know the entire house could hear you, right?” This comes from Elias. I glare at him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I deny.
“I’d rather not know,” my father says.
“I second that,” my mom adds. “Wait, unless it’s going to lead to me finally getting those grandbabies, then I might want to know.” She looks between me and Frankie.
“Sorry, Aunt Evie, I’m not a grandbaby-making machine,” Frankie says.
“Fine, Elias, you’re up. Find a girl and settle down. You are the oldest,” Mom says.
“Mama, I’m not going to just marry any woman who comes along. She has to be the right fit for the family,” he says.
“No. She has to be the right fit for you, Elias, not the family.”
“She has to be both,” our father grumbles.
“Emmanuel, our children are not marrying for the good of the family. They will marry for love.”
“Not if that love involves a person who can’t handle the lifestyle,” Dad retorts.
“Why are we talking about marriage? We’re young. There is plenty of time for those grandbabies,” Esterio says.
“Well, don’t hold your breath on this one, Aunt Evie. He sucks at picking up girls.” Frankie laughs and points at Esterio.
“I do not have an issue picking up women, Frankie,” Esterio argues.
“Yeah? Tell that to the one who threw a drink in your face and slapped you last night,” Frankie reminds him.
The entire table goes silent. “Someone slapped you?” my father asks, his tone casual, but we all know he’s anything but casual about someone laying hands on us.
“It was deserved. I said something I probably shouldn’t have said to her.” Esterio shrugs.
“I don’t want to know.”
“I want to know who she is so I can congratulate her,” Eliana chimes in.
“I caught this one sneaking out of Emilio’s room at some ungodly hour this morning.” Ezekiel puts his arm around Frankie’s shoulder, which she shakes off.
“I was actually sneaking into his room,” Frankie says. “Because I needed a phone charger and I knew he had a spare.”
“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?” Elias laughs.
“You need to have a conversation with your father, Frankie, before this…” Dad points between me and Frankie. “…gets back to him.”
“There’s nothing that needs to get back to him,” Frankie says.
“I’m not lying to him,” Dad says.
“I didn’t ask you to. I just… I don’t want to make anyone mad.” Frankie looks so fucking torn. I want to go over and wrap her in my arms.
“We want to keep things just between us for a while. Who knows? We might not even work out and then there’s nothing to tell anyone.”
“But we all know,” Eliana says.
“Because you’re all a nosey bunch,” I counter.
“It will be worse if he finds out from someone else,” Dad tells Frankie. “But I don’t need to be back in Vegas for a while, so until I do, you have time.”
“Thanks, Tío E.”
“I’ll also only tell him if he directly asks me,” Dad says.
Talk about an awkward fucking breakfast. First, my mom is talking about making Frankie a baby-making machine.
And now, my dad is telling her to come clean about our relationship to her own father.
A relationship she really wanted to keep secret.
If I don’t do something to scare her off, I’m sure one of my family members fucking will. I’m surprised she’s still sitting here.
“So, when’s the wedding?” Eliana asks, looking at me and then at Frankie.
Frankie coughs on the water she was drinking. “There’s no wedding. I’m not the marrying type.”
“Why not?” Eliana presses.
“Because I don’t want to lose myself to a man. I’m not going to get married and be owned by someone.”
“That’s what you think marriage is?” my mom asks. She sounds sad.
“Some marriages, yes.”
“Who?” Mom questions. “Who in our family has given you that impression?”
“No one, but I’ve spent my entire life being told what I can and can’t do by males. I get to live by myself now. I like my freedom.”
“They’re just looking out for you, Frankie,” Ezekiel tells her.
“I get it,” Eliana says. “At least you only have two brothers. I have four.”
“I would have preferred to give you more but your mother said no.” Dad shrugs.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to sneak around and go on dates without these guys finding out?” Eliana asks Frankie, and I turn and stare at my sister.
“Do tell… How hard is it, Eliana? And who the fuck are you going on dates with?” I ask her.
“Don’t swear at your sister,” Dad grits out through clenched teeth. “Eliana, princesa, who are you dating?”
“Yeah, I’m not telling any of you anything. I’m not that na?ve.”
“Did you know about this?” Dad turns to Mom.
Mom looks to Eliana and then to my dad. “Maybe.” Mom lifts a shoulder.
“Evie, who the hell is she dating?” Dad’s voice rises.
Elias is the first to stand, then Ezekiel, Esterio, and me. Frankie looks around the room. Elias steps behind Mom. The rest of us stay in our respective spots.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, sit down. I’m not a threat to my wife.”
Mom smirks. “You know, I specifically remember you saying that all these boys we were having would grow up to be my biggest protectors besides you.”
“They’re supposed to protect you against enemies. I’m not the fucking enemy,” Dad growls.
“I know that. They know that. But this is what you wanted, remember? After Eliana was born, you wanted to have even more babies so we could get more sons.”
“Because I knew she would grow up to be beautiful, because you are, mi alma. There’s a reason she’s sneaking around dating, and it’s because she knows it’s wrong.”
“I’m right here, and it’s not wrong to date. I’m eighteen, Papi, not a child.”
“You are a child,” Dad says. “And from now on, you don’t leave this house without one of your brothers.”
“You can’t be serious. Mom, tell him no.”
“Emmanuel, that’s ridiculous. You need to let her grow up,” Mom chastises.
“Nope, I’m with Dad on this one,” Elias chimes in.
“Me too,” Ezekiel and Esterio say in unison.
Eliana looks up at me. “Emilio? Don’t do this to me.”
“Sorry, sissy. I gotta side with Dad here. You’re too young and the things boys your age want, well, they’re not getting it from my sister.”
“Yeah? How about I give Alfie a call and see what he thinks about his sister dating you?” Eliana fires back.
I scoff. “You think I’m scared of Alfie.”
“How about we don’t call any of my brothers and say we did?
Also, Tío E, you’re my most favorite uncle.
And usually, I think you’re right. But this time, you’re kinda wrong.
Eliana dating isn’t a bad thing.” Frankie turns to my father, who looks as if he’s ready to burst a blood vessel.
“And you all need to sit the hell down. You look ridiculous,” she says, pointing to each of my brothers and then me.
“We all know your father is never going to hurt your mother.” Frankie rolls her eyes.
“They always do this,” Eliana says.
“It’s sweet, but also very unnecessary.” Frankie looks directly at me.
I’m torn. I’ve been taught my whole life to stand up for my mother and sister always.
Even against my father. He was the one who taught us that.
But now, Frankie pointing out just how stupid it is to think my father is a threat to my mother just because they disagree on something…
Well, it’s stupid. My father is the last person on earth who would ever hurt my mother.
I sit down, and then all of my brothers follow suit.
“I like you. If you don’t want to marry Emilio, I’ll marry you,” Eliana tells Frankie.
“That’s a great idea. You should date girls, Eliana,” Dad says.
“Who says I’m not already?” Eliana smirks.
“Are you?” Esterio asks her.
“No.” Eliana laughs. “But the hopeful looks on all of your faces is priceless.”
“What are everyone’s plans for the day?” Mom quickly changes the subject.
“I might go and find these guys three brides, because I think we could use some more female votes at this table,” Eliana says.
“Good idea. Let me know how that goes.” Mom chuckles.
“I’m taking Frankie sightseeing,” I say.
“Does that include sights outside of your bedroom walls?” Esterio smirks.
I pick up a piece of toast and throw it at him, which he easily catches. Asshole.